N40 Coops Winners: Best Chicken Coops in the Northwest
We had many amazing entries last year for N40 Coops, but after much debate we narrowed it down to these top two coops, six in total, from Washington, Montana, and Idaho'“we aren't saying you should be envious, but some of these coops were out of this world.
When it comes to raising chickens, we know its not just the brood lights and chick starter kits that you bring your new chicks home to'“it's about the attention to detail, the love and the foundation you lay for your chickens that will set them up for a full life in your flock. The chicken owners below went fully custom, from the feed and watering systems they installed, to the artwork that adorns their coop walls'“these coops are truly one of a kind pieces of functional art- and we are proud to bring them to you.
We hope that no matter the scale, these coops can inspire you to be creative, be unique and try something new.
And The Winners Are...
We hope you enjoy the first ever 2015 N40 Coops Film:
ENTIAT, WA
Our stop in Washington found us driving through apple orchards and up a narrow canyon following the Entiat River. Cruising through here, you could feel the down-home atmosphere and I knew we were going to a really cool place. As we pulled into the drive, I wasn't disappointed as Cindy greeted us on her ATV. After a quick introduction, we were looking at one of the nicest backyard chicken coops on the face of the earth, or at least in the Entiat River Valley-
Automatic lights, automatic heat and automatic doors make this coop not only high tech, but extremely efficient for raising healthy chickens. It also makes it nice for Cindy she doesn't have to worry about her girls if she is gone for a long weekend.
One thing that really stood out to us was the use of locally milled, reclaimed wood from an area close by that had been burned in a wildfire. Entiat has faced hard times with wildfire. Despite the hardships, the local people seem to keep a smile on their face and always looking forward.
PATEROS, WA
Our first stop in WA for N40 Coops found us in an unlikely place, a golf course subdivision. Local resident and self-proclaimed 'City Girl', Jenna is now the proud keeper of chickens. This didn't come easy though.
As you can probably guess, her local HOA didn't allow chickens, but after petitioning this rule and swaying local sentiment, chickens are now allowed in her subdivision on the outskirts of Pateros.
Her coop is definitely one of a kind. As you can see, it's actually a coop inside a coop. It's adorned with a chandelier and proudly described as a "shabby chic with a little barn sass." I'd have to agree 100% with this.
Aside from fresh eggs, Jenna expressed that she really enjoyed connecting herself and her family to their food. She felt it was important for her two boys to have this experience, and aside from raising chickens, they are also involved with their local 4H Club.
The summer of 2015 was a tough time for local residents. Catastrophic wildfires claimed timber and homes right in the middle of this area. During the evacuation, Jenna even had to let her chickens out to fend for themselves. Jenna's preparation beforehand ensured her chickens had everything they needed to make it through the smoke and fire
HAVRE, MT
Driving to Havre from Great Falls was like any other day, windy. Ironically, when we got to Havre the wind had subsided. Maybe it was some sort of Mother Nature humor, I mean, this far north it's almost spelled humour-
But all Canadian jokes aside, I wasn't going to complain about no wind. A clear view of the Bears Paw Mountains could be seen to the south and the sound of courting geese could be heard in nearby wheat fields.
Sticking out of the drab brown grass and the bare shelter belt rows stood the N40 Coop winner from Havre, MT. Adorned with red and white paint stood a really big chicken coop. The first thing Carol said to me was, "Make sure it's known that I didn't build this coop, I just kept it alive." She actually mentioned this a couple times, a testament to Carol's character. As a business woman, rancher, contractor and chicken farmer, Carol wears a lot of hats, but it seemed to me immediately that her integrity would be a unifying theme across all fields.
Keeping this family chicken coop from the mid 1900's alive is not just Grandma Dorothy's legacy, but now it's Carol's legacy as well. It's a tradition she hopes her grandchildren can keep alive while enjoying the rural life thanks again Carol.
GREAT FALLS, MT
Our first trip to a N40 Coop winner's residence was a little, well, weird. Here we were, three guys (two with camera gear) going to Jana's house to look at a chicken coop. To break the ice, I asked the first thing that came to mind, "What did you think when you saw an online competition for chicken coops"?
Jana kinda laughed. I don't even remember her answer to be honest, but I asked this question to every winner in one form or another, and it was always met with a little smile. MTV Cribs morphed into N40 Coops. Hard not to smile when you think of it like that. Jana is a handy person. She designed and built most of the coop herself.
On top of that nearly everything on the coop is from repurposed materials, complete with French doors for added sunlight. Like all ladies, these chickens needed a clean, bright space to be happy, and that's what Jana built for them. This was a great addition to our N40 Coops tour.
DEARY, ID
We left Great Falls at 7am, pumped to find another enthusiastic chicken lover 7 hours away. 30 minutes after turning south at Coeur d'Alene, ID, we exited cell phone service and drove into the heart of Idaho.
We were met by Lettis and her husband who have a 40 acre farm full of charm and restored buildings. We pulled in to the driveway to a big smile, and a curious couple wondering how exactly this was going to work.
After explaining what we were up to in more detail, we all realized that the goal here is to make growing your own food cool; because it is cool, and it's very doable.
Lettis is a creative person; she and her husband built a chicken tractor out of reused bike tires, and nearly all the buildings have been reclaimed and restored, including their infamous coop. Their goat feeder in the barn was even built on the frame of a reclaimed futon.
They raise goats, chickens, a couple cows, rabbits, and Royal Palm turkeys. One thing I learned from her husband? There's an old wives' tail that says the windows of your chicken coop should always face east.
Jerrin and I were there so long, Lettis and her husband were probably wondering if we were going to leave. It was a cold and rainy day, but we were having such a good time getting to know them and their animals. It felt too short, it was a great reminder on why we are in the farm and ranch store business, because figuring out how to improve the experience for people like Lettis and Clair is something that we're thankful to do.
Oh, and we have work to do... Lettis and Clair... gave us homework.
COEUR D'ALENE, ID
We woke up early in Coeur d'Alene to meet with Jodi in CDA, ID, and we were actually a little nervous because we showed up about a half an hour early. I know it sounds silly to be nervous, but you most likely have never shown up at a farmer or ranchers door step, in a Subaru, with loads of camera equipment, to ask if you could film the MTV cribs version of their chicken coop.
Lucky for Jerrin and I, Jodi came around the corner as we pulled up to welcome us to her 15 acres on a hillside full of trees, hiking trails, her 2 Finn sheep, 2 miniature goats and one of the most creative chicken coops I'd ever seen.
Jodi and her husband raise chickens as well as a few guinea in their coop, and they all have names- and name bands, and she was able to tell them apart. Her passion and creativity was immediately visible.
While we checked out the place, her lead rooster got his Tuxedo on for the camera, and I'm not at all kidding. You could tell these chickens are loved they were some of the friendliest we'd filmed, and they posed like runway models for Jerrin's camera.
Jodi actually has mirrors in the coop so her chickens can check themselves out, and as you'll see in the film she has art and decorations around the coop that resembles the chicken version of Leavenworth, WA. Her and her husband love living the country lifestyle, in her words, "This is her escape and sanctuary."
They have a big American flag flying as you pull in to the property, and again I'm reminded that these are the people that are the oxygen for me, and for North 40 Outfitters. Thanks again, Jodi.
Thanks to everyone who participated in N40 Coops this year-it was truly a pleasure!